Social Education

Social Education, our peer-reviewed, flagship journal, contains a balance of theoretical content and practical teaching ideas. The award-winning resources include techniques for using materials in the classroom, information on the latest instructional technology, reviews of educational media, research on significant social studies-related topics, and lesson plans that can be applied to various disciplines. Departments include Looking at the Law, Surfing the Net, and Teaching with Documents. Social Education is published 6 times per year: September; October; November/December; January/February; March/April; and May/June

Current and back issues of Social Education are available online to NCSS members.

Teaching with Documents
—Lee Ann PotterA newly launched project highlights one hundred landmark documents—such as the United States Constitution, Thomas Edison’s electric lamp patent, and the canceled check for Alaska—that have influenced the course of U.S. history. Here’s how to integrate these documents into classroom instruction.

Looking at the Law—James H. LandmanMarbury v. Madison: Bicentennial of a Landmark DecisionThis article revisits the historic two-hundred-year-old verdict that affirmed the Supreme Court’s right to review, and overturn, congressional or executive acts it deems unconstitutional.

In FocusCrisis with Iraq: A Lesson Plan—Choices Education Program, Watson Institute, Brown UniversityAs a debate continues in the United States and abroad about U.S. policy toward Iraq, this lesson plan will help teachers engage their students in considering that important issue.

In FocusSpotlight on IraqAn information section prepared by the staff of Social EducationThe special section provides background information on a country and regime that looms large in the news.

Surfing the Net—C. Frederick RisingerTeaching about Civics and Citizenship with the InternetThis practiced web surfer describes a range of sites every social studies teacher must bookmark.

Trade, Travel, and Scholarship in Dar al Islam—Joan Brodsky SchurStudents journey to the fifteenth century Islamic world with this simulation activity to learn how trade and travel fostered intellectual achievement, as well as improvements in material life.

The “We the People” Program—Diane HartSince 1987, millions of students have participated in this national civics program. Surveys show that alumni are more likely than are their peers to vote, pay attention to public affairs, or participate in politics.

Point of ViewMulticultural Education in Social Studies—Guichun Zong, Jesus Garcia, and Angene WilsonThe authors counter criticisms of multicultural education by describing how its pedagogical approaches promote a thoughtful patriotism.

Telegram Relating to the Slave TradeKaren Needles and Lee Ann PotterSlave trader Nathaniel Gordon was found guilty of illegally transporting African slaves in 1861. A trail of documents recounts the legal battle waged by his supporters to try and stop his execution.

Looking at the Law

Supreme Court PreviewCharles F. WilliamsAre “get-tough-on crime” laws or sex offender registries constitutional? This fall, the Supreme Court is slated to consider these questions and also hear some high profile cases with racial overtones like Virginia’s prohibition on cross burning.

What Patriotism Means Today in the Wake of 9/11Roger WilkinsThis university professor, who served as assistant attorney general in the Johnson administration, points out that dissent can be a form of patriotism, especially in times like these “when the blood is hot.”

A Cultural Immersion Experience in Xalapa, MexicoH. James McLaughlin, Shirley Hotch, and Gail SargentAfter a cultural exchange program in Mexico, a group of American teachers learned to better understand the experience of their immigrant students.

Alien Enemy Registration During World War IHelen Divjak and Lee Ann PotterGerman immigrants who had not yet become citizens of the United States found their world turned upside down by a presidential proclamation declaring them enemy aliens in World War One.

Mandatory School Uniforms: A Debate for StudentsJohn D. Hoge, Stuart J. Foster, Pat Nickell, and Sherry L. FieldDo school uniform codes limit students’ freedom of expression? And do they refocus student attention away from fashion toward academics? Students can research and debate the issues by examining what happened in Polk County, Florida, when the school board implemented a school uniform policy for K-8 students.

Teaching About September 11 and its AftermathHoward D. MehlingerEducating students about a historical watershed like the attacks of September 11 and the U.S. response to them requires careful selection of the right teaching approach. Here are some good options.

Economics and EthicsMichael HartoonianBusinessmen with a single-minded drive for profits often seemed to be heroes in the 1990s, but recent scandals and bankruptcies remind us of the disasters that occur when businesses spurn ethics.

Testy Times for Social StudiesSusie BurroughsState assessments of social studies have proliferated, and often have high-stakes consequences. This review includes results from a survey by the NCSS Instruction Committee of the perspectives of social studies teachers on the current situation.

Elementary Education

Studying the CommunityDot SchulerExplorations of the local community can lead to an excellent voyage into knowledge for elementary students.

A Poet and a Mystic: Jalaluddin RumiCarol TellThis thirteenth-century Persian poet can help students learn about a culture and a history far different from their own. But Rumi’s poetry also points to universal themes, such as love, loss, and the search for meaning in a chaotic age.

Exploring Hispanic Culture through Trade BooksJudy A. Leavell, Barbara Hatcher, Jennifer Battle, and Nancy Ramos-MichailThe authors describe a variety of trade books that present diverse and rich Hispanic cultures, along with teaching tips on how best to use these books in the classroom.

The Carter G. Woodson Book AwardsThese annual awards honor books dealing with subjects about U.S. ethnic minorities in a manner suitable for readers at the elementary and secondary levels. This year’s winners include books on Sitting Bull, black women freedom fighters, and jazz.

Conflicts Global and Local: An Elementary ApproachKathy BickmoreFrom warring nations to bickering siblings, conflict is a reality that even elementary-age students experience. Learning about conflict—what it is, what causes it, and how it can be handled—is the focus of this fourth and fifth grade unit.

The 1930 CensusLee Ann PotterWhat did it take to be a census enumerator for the 1930 census? What does a sample census schedule look like? The article examines the 1930 census and includes teaching activities that help students understand the importance of the census to the history of our nation.

Looking at the Law

Minority Religions and Limitations on Religious FreedomEric Michael MazurAmerica was founded on ideals of religious liberty—but all liberties have limits. The author explores the cases of three minority religions—the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Native Americans—and their encounters with the American constitutional order.

Teaching with Tech

Ideology and the WebJohn K. LeeThe World Wide Web is an excellent source of information for social studies classes, but teachers should be aware of the ideologies, both visible and invisible, that frame particular websites.

To Russia with. . . TechnologyCandy BealWith the help of new technologies and some old-fashioned determination, a social studies educator took thousands of North Carolina sixth graders on a virtual trip to Russia.

Handheld Computing in the Social StudiesShelli A. Whitworth, Kathleen Owings Swan, and Michael J. BersonThe latest technology hitting social studies classrooms is the handheld computer—a portable device that is less expensive than desktop computers and offers useful capabilities.

BioterrorRuth Levy Guyer and Jonathan D. MorenoSince September 11, the fear of a bioterrorist attack has become widespread. The authors look at the roots of bioterrorism, as well as the recent anthrax scare, and suggest ways that teachers can address bioterrorism with their students.

Looking at the Law

In the Wake of September 11: Civil Liberties and TerrorismBruce G. PeabodyThe conflict between civil liberties and the “war on terrorism” involves three specific issues: the government’s right to eavesdrop on conversations between alleged terrorists and their attorneys, deportation and the “right to be silent,” and military tribunals.

Eli Landers: Letters of a Confederate SoldierStephanie Wasta and Carolyn LottEli Landers, a young Confederate soldier in the Civil War, wrote poignant letters home to his mother, in which he described the battles he fought in, his fears and dreams, and the suffering he endured and witnessed.

Preserving Civil War DiariesJohn Michael PriestAn afterschool program gives students the opportunity to transcribe and edit primary sources from the Civil War.

The Road to the CourtLee ArbetmanWhen students from a small town in New York wanted their Christian student group to meet on school grounds, they had no idea that their case would make it all the way to the Supreme Court.

Which Cases Should We Teach?Diana Hess and Anand MarriTeachers need to teach not just the well-known and well-regarded Supreme Court cases but also "live" cases, whose decisions are still controversial today.

Supreme Court CoverageCharles BierbauerCameras may not be allowed in the courtroom, but journalists covering the Supreme Court still have work to do, from following cases and reporting on decisions, to giving the public a glimpse into the minds of the justices.

Teaching Brown v. Board of EducationJennifer Brandsberg-EngelmannBrown v. Board of Education
, which ruled against the segregation of schools, is one of the most widely taught Supreme Court cases today.

Reflections in a Time of Crisis

Debating War and Peace in Washington Square Park Robert Cohen, Diana Turk, and Emily KleinThis sampling of comments posted in Washington Square Park after September 11 shows that, along with sadness and anger, a democratic spirit is alive and well in New York City.

Media Literacy Skills: Interpreting TragedyRenee HobbsWith the onslaught of media coverage about terrorism and war, students must learn to question, analyze, and think critically about the values and perspectives behind media messages.

War Crimes: An End in Sight? Joanne M. DufourWill all crimes of war one day be investigated and punished in an international court of law? The author presents background information on the significant war trials of the twentieth century and the development of the idea of an International Criminal Court.

At Risk of Prejudice:The Arab American Community Zeina Azzam SeikalyAs Arab Americans face growing resentment from segments of the U.S. population, how can we protect our Arab American students from encountering such prejudice, educate all our students about the Arab American community, and emphasize tolerance over bigotry?

Looking at the Law

Supreme Court TrendsCharles F. WilliamsThe year 2000 was a significant one for the Supreme Court. Many decisions affected education and children—from tobacco advertising to religion in the schools.

Economists in the SchoolAngela Breidenstein, Richard Butler, and Nipoli KamdarEconomic literacy is crucial, but far too often it is not adequately addressed in school curricula. A school-university program in San Antonio, Texas, proves that students of all ages can enjoy learning basic economic concepts.

Solving Problems with Twenty QuestionsWilliam D. EdgingtonTeachers can use problem solving techniques, such as a version of the game Twenty Questions, to enhance students’ inquiry skills and content knowledge.

September 2001 Volume 65 Number

Navajo Code Talkers

Teaching with Documents

The Navajo Code Talkers: A Secret World War II MemorandumAdam Jevec and Lee Ann PotterDuring World War II, when military secrecy was a top priority, the U.S. Marine Corps enlisted Navajos to send and receive codes in their native language. These Navajo code talkers provided an essential line of radio communication that was versatile, secure, and error-free.

Conflict Resolution in History: The War with Mexico as a Case StudyArlene L. Gardner and John ChambersBy applying conflict resolution strategies to such events as the Mexican-American War, students grapple with difficult historical disputes, learn mediation and negotiation skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the costs, complexities, and consequences of conflict.

Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts
by Sam WineburgElizabeth YeagerHistorical thinking, the author tells us, is a stimulating, engaging process but requires skills that do not come to us automatically. Wineburg’s book investigates how both students and teachers make historical meaning and situate themselves within the broader scope of history.

National History DayMichael Simpson and Steven S. LaphamNational History Day is a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to engage in high-level history projects and share their talents.

May/June 2001 Volume 65 Number

Poetry and Politics in the Time of Stalin

"Enemies of the People": Poetry and Politics in the Time of StalinDavid MorseThe Stalin Purges of the 1930s affected all sectors of Soviet society, but none more deeply than writers and other members of the Russian intelligentsia. At stake was the role of literature in society and how any form of free thought could survive when the aim of the State was, in the words of writer Nadezhda Mandelshtam, “to destroy not only people, but the intellect itself.”

Making a Difference - One Village at a Time: The Peace Corps Partnership ProgramJames G. Miller, Jr.Through partnerships with Peace Corps volunteers, students at Corcoran High School and adjacent Roberts Elementary School in Syracuse, New York, have helped build six primary schools, a village well, two maternity wards, a medicinal herb garden, a community health center, and a school for the blind, among other projects, in various nations around the world. This article explains how your school can become involved in this form of service-learning.

The Carter G. Woodson Book Awards 2000 These annual awards honor books that deal with subjects relating to U.S. ethnic minorities in a manner suitable for readers at the elementary and secondary levels. This year’s highest awards go to Sharon Linnéa for Princess Ka‘iulani: Hope of a Nation, Heart of a People at the secondary level, and to Ruby Bridges for Through My Eyes at the elementary level.

Graphic Representations as Tools for Decision MakingJudith HowardThe ability to make good decisions is a fundamental skill needed by citizens of a democracy. The tools described here can help students sharpen their analytical and decision-making skills though graphic representation of the weight or force of alternative choices and their possible consequences.

Teaching Middle School Social Studies: Who Is at Risk?Sherry L. Field, Ron Wilhelm, Pat Nickell, John Culligan,and Jan Sparks“Turning Points,” a Carnegie report of 1989, drew attention to the unique aspects of the middle school years and what this implied for teaching and learning during these years. This article explores the methods used by two experienced middle school teachers to engage adolescent learners—both those designated as “at risk,” and the larger number who may be at risk but whose needs receive no special recognition.

Elementary Education

Building a Community in Our Classroom: The Story of Bat Town, U.S.A.Andrea McGann KeechAs the passing of time and the changing of the landscape became familiar concepts to them, children in one third-fourth grade combination class used their growing knowledge of their town’s past as the starting point for creating a model community of their own.

Dateline

Building Bridges: Miami "Ambassadors" Visit RussiaToni Fuss KirkwoodThree young adults look backward to reflect on what they gained from a cross-cultural exchange between Russian and American high schools students in 1996. The students—all minority group members with some experience of racial discrimination at home—recall how little race figured as an “issue” among their Russian counterparts, and how much they needed to overcome their own stereotypes of the Russian people.

Book ReviewFor Mortal Stakes
by Paul F. Cummins and Anna K. CumminsArthur R. PoskocilThe authors view childhood as “an end in itself, a time of innocent celebration of life,” and the real goals of education as supporting children’s natural “passion, joy, and engagement” in learning. Schools that recognize no mission beyond the child’s cognitive development will, say the authors, fail to reach even this unrealistically circumscribed goal.

History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the WebKelly Schrum and Roy RosenzweigTeachers do not always have the time to screen Internet information for its quality or relevancy. The History Matters website serves as a gateway to more than four hundred prescreened, quality websites, while also offering a variety of other activities and services.

A Teacher’s Guide to the Holocaust: An Online ResourceAnne E. Barron and Roy WinkelmanIn 1994, Florida adopted a law mandating Holocaust education. A Teacher’s Guide to the Holocaust was designed to help prepare Florida teachers to teach this sensitive subject. Now the site has grown into a useful resource for teachers nationwide.

WebQuest: Using Internet Resources for Cooperative InquiryAndrew J. Milson and Portia DowneyThe authors define a WebQuest as an “inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Internet.” This approach offers access to online primary sources and a structure for evaluating these sources, all the while increasing student participation and cooperation.

Enhancing Social Science Education through Tele-Collaborative Teaching and LearningStephanie W. Karran, Michael J. Berson, and Cheryl L. MasonThe Internet has not lived up to the expectations of many educators, who envisioned it as the answer to their collaborative tele-learning needs. Enter Internet2, a broadband, fiber-optic network able to provide the quality-of-service guarantees necessary for tele-education.

Charts and Graphs in Japanese Elementary School Social Studies TextbooksGary DeCoker and Erica EricksonThe ability to interpret charts and graphs is an important skill, yet one relatively overlooked by U.S. elementary social studies textbooks. Hoping to provide a model for change, this article examines the widespread use of charts and graphs in Japanese elementary textbooks.

Point of View

A Critique of the NCSS Curriculum StandardsAnna S. Ochoa-Becker“The setting of standards by a national organization may contribute to conformity and uniformity in its implicit assumption that one set of standards fits all schools.” The author calls for a revision of the NCSS Curriculum Standards, outlining her reasons for doing so, and inviting others to join in the debate.

Census Watch

Results of the Census ofThe U.S. Bureau of the Census has begun to publish the results of the Census of 2000. Here is some early information about population totals.

March 2001 (Volume 65 Number 2)

Observing the First World Refugee Day: June 20, 2001—United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesRefugees are people who have been uprooted from their homes and cannot return because of a “well-founded fear” of persecution. Because of the growing magnitude of this problem, the UN General Assembly has designated June 20, 2001, as the first World Refugee Day.

Environmental Awareness and Environmental Education in Myanmar—Hla Hla WinMyanmar faces the common dilemma of developing countries that seek to balance natural preservation with economic development to meet people’s needs. The new attention to environmental education is one path toward achieving sustainable development in Myanmar.

Russia: The State of Education at the Turn of the Century—Jana Sackman EatonRussia’s educational system is undergoing significant changes spurred by the move toward democracy and a free-market economy. But the transition itself poses challenges to a system that depends more than ever on the energy, talent, and dedication of Russia’s teachers.

Research & PracticeWhat Can Be Done to Encourage Civic Engagement in Youth?—Carole L. HahnBased on a ten-year study of citizenship education in five countries, the author posits that the best way to encourage civic engagement in youth is to encourage the open and civil discussion of controversial issues in the classroom.

“Leading discussions well is one of the ‘great difficult things’ in teaching, as anyone knows who has tried it and is honest about the results.” The author reports on two teachers who use varying forms of discussion—seminar and deliberation—to stimulate critical thinking among secondary students.

Teaching with DocumentsLetter from House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford to President Richard M. Nixon—Lee Ann Potter and Wynell SchamelWhen Vice President Spiro T. Agnew was forced to resign from office, President Nixon was faced with the historical “first” of putting to use the new Twenty-fifth Amendment. This article features one of the many letters the president received about whom he should nominate for vice president.

A Profile of Elementary Social Studies Teachers and Their Classrooms—Mary E. Haas and Margaret A. LaughlinElementary teachers want to provide meaningful social studies instruction, but may be thwarted by their perception that social studies is not viewed as an important content area in elementary schools. This is one of many observations in this profile of NCSS members who teach at the elementary level.

Book ReviewTeach Me: Kids Will Learn When Oppression is the Lessonby Murray Burton LevinReviewed by Joe AucielloRetired professor Murray Levin’s efforts to teach black and Latino students in an alternative school in Boston led him to conclude that expecting public schools to solve all the problems of disadvantaged students “reversed the natural order. When the economy begins to serve true human needs, the schools will produce responsible and engaged human beings.”

January/Feburary 2001 Volume 65 Number

President’s AddressCreating Public Spaces in the Social Studies ClassroomSusan AdlerDemocracy means more than the promotion and protection of individual rights; it requires an active commitment to the common good and a willingness to work with others to achieve it. Our schools have a vital role to play in this process.

Prospects for the Electoral College after ElectionJennifer Truran RothwellFor the first time in more than a century, the United States experienced a presidential election in which the popular and electoral college votes diverged. Should the electoral college be abolished, reformed, or kept as it is? There is no lack of opinions on this thorny subject.

Teaching with Documents

The 1963 March on WashingtonNatalie Lloyd, Wynell Schamel, and Lee Ann PotterPlanners of the 1963 March on Washington hoped it would unify the Civil Rights Movement and influence President John F. Kennedy to energetically support its goals. Their hopes were best expressed in the historic “I Have a Dream” speech that Martin Luther King delivered at the Lincoln Memorial.

Frederic Remington’s Image of the Frontier Robert L. StevensEven as the Western frontier was disappearing in the 1880s, Eastern illustrator Frederic Remington was conjuring up an image of it that found wide popularity among the urban public. More myth than reality, Remington’s works helped to obscure the real nature of the struggle between white settlers and American Indians over land in the West.

Elementary Education

Hard Times and New Deals: Teaching Fifth Graders about the Great DepressionGary FertigThe study unit on the Great Depression described here makes use of recent findings about how children develop historical understandings. The unit includes a simulation on the stock market crash of 1929, a letter-writing activity based on study of letters real children wrote to Mrs.Roosevelt, and the creation and performance of historical scenarios involving Depression-era characters.

Doing REAL History: Citing Your Mother in Your Research Paper Andrea S. LibrescoWhen a student from El Salvador told how he had once seen his fourth grade teacher shot in front of him, attitudes toward immigration among his American classmates began to take on more shades of gray. Exploring immigration through an extensive oral history project made history more real to the high school students in this teacher’s classroom.

What Can Forrest Gump Tell Us about Students’ Historical Understanding?Sam Wineburg, Susan Mosborg, and Dan PoratChildren gain impressions of our history from a wide variety of sources in school and out, but “the notion that all these sources form a coherent whole mocks the complexity of social life.” The authors suggest that “by investigating the history students bring with them to school, we can consider anew the role of the classroom.”

Uncovering Pompeii: Examining Evidence Michael M. YellThe lesson offered here makes use of a teaching strategy called “interactive presentation” to bring the life and times of ancient Pompeii into today’s middle school classrooms.

2000

November/December 2000 (Volume 64 Number 7)

Environmental Politics and the Endangered Species Act

Environmental Politics and the Endangered Species ActDavid SahrIt is questionable whether Congress understood the scope of the Endangered Species Act it passed in 1973. Teachers looking for a legal case study might well choose this act to exmplify how science and politics may collide.

Privacy, Individual Liberty, and the Public InterestJohn Paul RyanPrivacy is not an absolute value, but one that must be balanced against other needs of society. This article reports on a discussion in cyberspace among six scholars whose disciplines relate to questions of privacy.

Protecting Academic Freedom in the 21st CenturyWilliam J. StegmayerWhat would
, and what should
, your school do in situations where a teacher’s academic freedom comes under question? Three case studies provide the basis for thinking about this vital issue.

Truman’s Firing of General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean WarAmy Patterson, Wynell Schamel, and Lee Ann PotterThe collision of wills between two commanders in chief—President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur—resulted in one of the most important demonstrations of the civilian control of the military called for by the Constitution in U.S. history.

Teaching Social Issues Using the InternetC. Frederick RisingerTeaching about controversial issues should not be confined to U.S. government or problems-oriented courses, but can be undertaken throughout the social studies curriculum.

Election 2000: The Keys Point to GoreAllan J. LichtmanAccording to this prediction system with a highly successful track record, Al Gore is likely to be the victor in this year’s presidential election, regardless of how well he or George W. Bush organize their campaigns.

Instructional Technology

The E-CitizenJohn K. LeeThe Internet has already begun to change the opportunities citizens have to participate in politics.

Looking at the Law

U.S. Supreme Court TrendsCharles F. WilliamsMany decisions made by the Supreme Court last year had 5-4 majorities—a number that politicians in this election year view with keen interest

Presidential Elections in the Age of TelevisionJennifer Truran RothwellTelevision, as both news medium and commercial venture, has exerted a profound influence on American elections since its entry into the political arena in the late 1940s.

Presidential Character in Election 2000James J. Lopach and Jean A. LuckowskiThis year’s presidential election may be more heavily influenced than usual by questions of character. What makes up the "character" of a candidate for the highest office in the land?

Teaching with DocumentsDocuments Related to the Disputed General Election of 1876Wynell Schamel, Lee Ann Potter, and Katherine SnodgrassThe presidential contest between Tilden and Hayes in 1876 put the electoral college system to the test and was only resolved by a political compromise that brought an end to Reconstruction.

The Constitutional Struggle for Voting Rights in Washington, D.C.Rebecca Kingsley and Jamin B. RaskinThe struggle of D.C. residents for equal voting rights has taken several forms, from seeking a constitutional amendment, to proposing a D.C. statehood bill in Congress, to the recent attempt to use the courts to attain the goal of one person-one vote.

Teaching with Cartoons

Looking at Elections through the Cartoonist’s EyeWm. Ray HeitzmanAlthough students often like political cartoons, many have trouble understanding them. The author proposes a step-by-step approach to help students develop the analytical skills needed to interpret cartoons.

Presidential Debates: Not a Spectator SportThese activities designed to help students analyze presidential debates are part of a curriculum produced by the Commission on Presidential Debates in collaboration with Kids Voting USA.

The 1999 Carter G. Woodson Book AwardsTop honors in this year’s awards for books depicting ethnicity and race relations in the United States go to Rinna Evelyn Wolfe for Edmonia Lewis: Wildfire in Marble (secondary level) and John Duggleby for Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence (elementary level).

Violent Kids:Can We Solve the Problem?Michael deCourcy HindsAmerican teenagers are the most violent when compared with their counterparts in other developed nations. This article looks at three possible causes of youth violence and the remedies proposed to solve them.

Telegram from Ho Chi Minh to Harry S. TrumanLee Ann Potter and Wynell SchamelThe friendly relations that existed between American officials and the Viet Minh during World War II were not destined to survive the curtain descending between East and West in the early postwar years.

Reconstructing a School's Past Using Oral Histories and GIS MappingMarsha Alibrandi, Candy Beal, Ann Thompson, and Anna WilsonUncovering the "invisible" history of their school--once the only black public high school in Raleigh, North Carolina--taught students at Ligon Middle School both new skills and old truths about their community.

Amy Wallace: Information Age TeacherHoward MehlingerA retiring sixth grade teacher reflects on the profound changes technology made in her teaching as she says goodbye to the classroom in the year 2015.

Caribbean Crucible: History, Culture, and Globalization Kevin A. YelvingtonThe Caribbean may be seen as one point of origin in the modern system of globalization; understanding this means considering not only the Caribbean’s role in the world, but the world’s role in the Caribbean.

Caribbean Politics: A Matter of DiversityPaul SuttonThe Caribbean is an area of immense political diversity. This, coupled with the physical insularity of its nations and territories, makes it difficult to define common interests and achieve common goals.

Teaching IdeasMapping the Caribbean Region Pedro R. Bermúdez and Bárbara C. CruzThis lesson asks students to make mental maps of the Caribbean as a starting point for developing their understanding of the physical and cultural geography of the region.

Cuba: Background to a RevolutionAlejandro de la FuenteDespite forty years of Soviet-style socialism, the fate of Cuba—both its future promise and the formidable obstacles facing it—remains linked with that of the surrounding island nations.

President’s AddressSocial Studies Education: A Challenge, A Choice, and a CommitmentRichard TheisenIt can be hard for teachers producing "900 shows a year" to stop and ask "why?" do a lesson in this way rather than another. But the involvement of teachers in considering the large questions about the social studies is vital to our role in training future citizens.

Challenges to the Common Good in the Age of Globalism Benjamin R. BarberThe idea of the common good that underlies our democracy is under challenge from globalization and the forces that flow from it. These include the privatization of public power, the commercialization of what is privatized, and the infantilization of citizens—viewed solely in their role as consumers—around the world.

Preface: Footsteps of a New Millennium H. Michael Hartoonian and Richard Van ScotterThe essays presented here examine how our contemporary conditions are connected to the past, and pose questions about what we must do to achieve a more sane and just society in the future.

Students at the Millennium John DriscollThis is an unsettled time in which to be coming of age; helping students to obtain clarity of vision about our republic and what constitutes the role of citizen is the best we can offer as social studies teachers.

The Changing Face of Knowledge Simon Hooper and Brad HokansonHow we can make the most intelligent use of the computer technology becoming ubiquitous in our schools depends on our understanding of how learning occurs and what current research teaches us.

Navigating a New Information Landscape Charlie FitzpatrickThe new information landscape presents a dual challenge to educators: students must be taught the traditional skills needed to evaluate information critically, while teachers must become more comfortable with the computer and Internet as tools of learning.

Roundtable Where have we come from and where are we going? The various perspectives about major issues for the next century offered here are drawn from both older and younger Americans.

Changing Family Forms M. Therese Seibert and Marion C. WillettsWhile family forms have changed greatly over the past century, institutional and cultural adjustments to these changes have been slower in coming—making family issues the subject of an intense debate that shows no signs of flagging as we enter the new millennium.

Citizenship: The Democratic Imagination in a Global Context John J. Cogan, David Grossman, and Mei-hui LeiIf global forces are to increasingly shape the world, then what kind of citizen is needed to function in global society? This article views citizenship as having four dimensions—personal, social, spatial, and temporal and discusses ways for teaching the concept of multidimensional citizenship.

School Voucher Plans Raise Key Church-State IssuesCharles White and Charles F. WilliamsThis article looks at the issue of tax-funded school voucher programs through the prism of the constitutional question it raises involving the "wall of separation" between church and state.

The prediction model outlined here is based on thirteen key questions stated as propositions favoring the reelection of the incumbent party. The outcome of the presidential election may hinge on whether there is a serious contest for the Democratic Party nomination.

This study of civic education across national boundaries is uncovering many commonalities, including a common core of content, a widely perceived gap between democratic goals and societal realities, and a concern everywhere about diversity and what direction to take in teaching about it.

As the new millennium dawns, Americans might do well to temper the current spirit of triumphalism with a hard look at our failure to correct serious inequities within or own society or to honestly examine the implications of our actions on the world stage.

Looking at the 21 decennial censuses taken from 1790 to the upcoming Census 2000 can help students understand the fundamental importance of the U. S. census and its relationship to trends and issues in our history.

The trial jury, a venerable institution of democracy and citizen participation, is nevertheless not without its controversies. This article looks at problems and progress in the U. S. jury system. An accompanying article by Hannah Leitermann on "The Citizen’s Jury" traces the history of the trial jury in English and American jurisprudence.

This regular column reviews key decisions of the last Supreme Court term, and previews the next one, with suggestions for stimulating class activities.

September 1999 (Volume 63 Number 5)

Mountains: a global resource

From Mountain Men to MinersRobert L. Stevens and Jared A. FogelThe move from family farm to coal camp wrought dramatic—and sometimes disastrous—changes in the lives of people in Appalachia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Special SectionMountains: A Global ResourceThis special section examines the critical importance of mountains to the people who inhabit them and to the world at large. The curriculum presented here supports "The Mountain Agenda"—an international initiative designed to raise public awareness about mountain ecosystems—and results from a collaboration between The Mountain Institute and National Council for the Social Studies.

Multiculturalism vs. GlobalismNelly UkpokoduAlthough multiculturalism and globalism share significant purposes in the social studies curriculum, teaching either concept well requires drawing some important distinctions between them.

Looking at the LawThe Evolution of Human Rights in the Age of BiotechnologyJohn Paul Ryan and Benjamin HronThe era of genetic engineering is upon us and there is no avoiding the legal issues it poses, many of which constitute uncharted ground for ethicists no less than biologists. This article offers an assessment of the implications of recent scientific advances, as well as related teaching activities (Hilary Glazer and Hannah Leiterman), a discussions of bioethics and the law (Elizabeth Yang) and an expression of concern about some potential pitfalls of biotechnology (Ami S. Jaeger).

Teaching with DocumentsThe 1820 Census of ManufacturesLee Ann Potter and Wynell SchamelThe movement of young women from farm life to textile mill workers reflected the changing fortunes of New England farmers and merchants as the Napoleonic Wars pulled the young American nation into their wake.

Women Reformers in the Progressive EraJudith McDonoughThe liberal spirit of the Progressive Era beckoned women—both college graduates and members of the working class—to carve out their own places in the public world outside the home.

Teaching with DocumentsThe Arrest Records of Rosa ParksStacey Bredhoff, Wynell Schamel, and Lee Ann PotterThe 381-day Montgomery bus boycott that followed the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to relinquish her seat on a city bus to a white passenger was a crucial event in mobilizing national and worldwide support for the civil rights movement.

How Newspapers Framed the U. S. History Standards DebatePatricia G. Avery and Theresa JohnsonThe release of the National Standards for United States History sparked a controversy that went far beyond their merit as curriculum guidelines to questions about the nature of the American past; but the voices heard in this debate were limited, and scarcely included classroom teachers and their students.

The 1998 Carter G. Woodson Book AwardsThese annual awards honor books with themes dealing with U.S. race relations and ethnic minorities in a manner suitable for elementary and secondary school students. This year’s Elementary Award Winner is Milton Meltzer for his biography of Langston Hughes
. The Secondary Award Winner is Leon Walter Tillage for his memoir, Leon’s Story
.

Get Your Students Involved in CivicsStephen C. SansoneDeveloping a political identity is not only an important goal of civics education, but may provide the impetus for students to learn what it really means to be an informed citizen.

Human Rights SeriesHuman Rights for Children: The Unfinished AgendaWilliam R. FernekesThe idea that children need specific rights guarantees, first proposed by 19th century social reformers, was codified in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.This article looks at the state of progress in three areas of children’s rights: access to education, children and violence, and child health.

American History Websites for Use in Secondary SchoolsWilliam LeemanFrom the Salem Witch Trials to the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk to the Camp David Accords, the websites offered here have been carefully evaluated for their accuracy and usefulness in secondary social studies classrooms.

Help! I’m Lost in Cyberspace!Antoinette Kranning and Lee EhmanA project called "Mystery from History" brings together fifth grade students and university pre-service teachers via e-mail exchanges throughout a semester.

Human Rights SeriesWe Must Integrate Human Rights into the Social StudiesEd O’BrienNeither the goals nor the language of human rights have achieved a strong foothold in social studies education in the United States—which may help to explain why we see human rights abuses as something that can happen anywhere else but here.

March 1999 Volume 63 Number

China Update: Economic Reforms and Political RealitiesJana Sackman EatonChina today is experiencing an economic transformation and greater political frankness. The new opportunities do not extend to the vast majority of China’s people, which may spell greater turmoil in the future.

Special Section: Preservation and ChangeSustainable Development in Costa Rica: An Approach to the Geography CurriculumDouglas Heffington and Judith MimbsThe tools of geography can help as people in developing nations seek to improve their livelihoods in ways that preserve the environment. But the process is challenging, as shown in this study of the Bribri, an indigenous people who live on a reserve in the Talamanca Mountains of southeastern Costa Rica.

The Monteverde Community—A Whole Greater than Its PartsQuint NewcomerThe feeling of community so essential to achieving sustainable development is very much evident in this mountain town. Its surrounding forest preserves, with their vast biodiversity, have become a magnet for nature tourists.

Ecostudents: The New Wave of Students AbroadSandra Woy-HazeltonAs universities and other organizations have begun offering programs of environmental study in nations throughout the world, the profile of the student abroad has changed to include the new ecostudents.

Teaching Presidential ImpeachmentJean A. Luckowsi and James J. LopachAn issues-centered approach to impeachment can help students to both appreciate the wisdom of our constitutional framework and understand why such strong differences over how to interpret the Constitution emerged in the recent debate over impeaching President Clinton.

Looking at the LawAffirmative Action: Contentious Ideas and Controversial PracticesJohn Michael Eden and John Paul RyanNine scholars meet in cyberspace to talk about affirmative action in terms of its original intent to counter past racism and "level the playing field" in American society, and the thinking behind recent court decisions and statewide voter intiatives that challenge its practice.

Human Rights SeriesThe Scourge of Genocide: Issues Facing Humanity Today and TomorrowSamuel TottenMost responsible world leaders decry the act of genocide, but seem to do so only after the fact. Yet while the causes of genocide are complex and varying, the effects on victims are the same, and demand that we search for better remedies against this recurrent human tragedy.

Book ReviewsWe Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda
by Philip GourevitchSamuel TottenThis book takes a critical look at the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and concludes that responsibility for it—though lying chiefly with its perpetrators—also extends to the actions of other nations and the inaction of the international community as a whole. The book received the National Book Critics Circle Award for History in 1998.

Point of ViewThe Value of Teaching ValuesJeff PasseTeaching values to school children is not a discrete activity, but involves choices made at every step in the process of education. Its ultimate goal should be to foster the open discussion that prepares students for their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democracy.

Saints or Sinners? The Case for an Honest Portrayal of Historical FiguresSusan I. KentThe presentation of our national past as a "spectacular, flag-waving saga" is incomplete, less than honest, and impossible to maintain in the face of modern media. Children are more likely to benefit from a realistic understanding of the people and events that have shaped our nation.

The Schoolwide Symposium: A Model for LearningWalt CottinghamThe energizing effect of a week-long symposium on Vietnam in a small high school in North Carolina set the precedent for an annual school event eagerly anticipated by students, teachers, and the local community.

Teaching with DocumentsGeneral Orders Pertaining to Removal of the CherokeesLee Ann Potter and Wynell SchamelBy order of Major General Winfield Scott, "every possible kindness" was to be extended to the Cherokees during their forced removal beyond the Mississippi in 1838. But what could "kindness" possibly mean given the circumstances?

Native American Tribal WebsitesEric L. MillerWith the advent of the Internet, American Indian nations now have official tribal websites. This list will help readers to explore the diversity of Native American cultures.

Point of ViewNative Americans as MascotsSharon Pray MuirThe lesson presented here uses role reversal to help students consider the issue of how it might feel to belong to a group that was portrayed as a sports mascot.

Human Rights SeriesHuman Rights and Foreign Policy: A Lesson PlanAmnesty International Human Rights Service CorpsU.S. citizens can influence the actions of their government. This lesson plan examines how individuals may affect the making of foreign policy based on human rights concerns.

1998

November/December 1998 Volume 62 Number 7

Social Studies and the New Immigration

Guest Editors: Xue Lan Rong and M. Gail Hickey

Foreword: Focusing on the New ImmigrationXue Lan Rong and M. Gail HickeyThis special issue of Social Education
focuses on schools as the primary gateway for absorbing newcomers into United States society, and explores new ideas for empowering immigrants that challenge the traditional model of assimilation.

Using Media Literacy to Explore Stereotypes of Mexican ImmigrantsLucila Vargas and Bruce dePysslerThe current media portrayal of Mexican immigrants and native-born Latinos differs little from the historical pattern of negative coverage. Media literacy tools can help students deconstruct the stereotypes and other false images prevalent in general-market media.

Teaching IdeasYoung Children Learn About Immigrants to the United StatesJudith Y. Singer and Theodora Harbour-RidleyTeaching about immigration is an inclusive effort that involves pre-schoolers and elementary students, teachers and parents, at the Morris L. Eisenstein Learning Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Bilingual Education: An OverviewRosa Castro Feinberg and Consuelo Conde MorenciaStudents with limited English proficiency constitute a special challenge in today’s classrooms. This article reviews some of the approaches to bilingual education now being used to help these children succeed academically.

Surfing the WebTeaching about ImmigrationFrederick RisingerA number of good websites on immigration can help stimulate classroom discussion. This controversial topic can also be a good way to introduce students to website bias.

Human Rights SeriesThe Rights of RefugeesJennifer Truran Rothwell"Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution," states Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But as the conditions of modern warfare continue to uproot millions of people, where can today’s refugees find safe haven?

Looking at the LawThe Changing Face of Immigration LawChristina DeConcini, Jeanine S. Piller, and Margaret FisherThe United States is in the midst of a “cold spel#148; with regard to immigration, as evidenced by several laws passed by Congress in 1996. What accounts for the fluctuations in American attitudes toward newcomers, and how are today’s immigrants being affected by the new legislation?

Teaching with DocumentsDeclaration of Intention and Petition for NaturalizationLee Ann Potter and Wynell SchamelThe legal requirements for becoming a United States citizen have changed little since the founding of the nation, although the paperwork has been streamlined. This article uses documents submitted by Greta Garbo and one Archibald Leach to explain the process of naturalization.

How was it possible to create a massive social force to defend the slave system when it benefitted so few economically? The experience of the Irish in mid-19th century America helps reveal how the concept of racial supremacy operated to "divide and conquer" groups with shared economic interests.

This lesson plan leads students to consider the statement, "Resolved: American slavery is an oxymoron," in terms of the attitudes revealed in primary source documents from the period leading up to the American Revolution.

NATO ExpansionKaren VolkerNATO has been an unexpectedly successful deterrent force, so it’s not surprising that many former Warsaw Pact countries want to join.

Schools Demining Schools: A Global Teach-InUnited Nations Global Teach-In Project and the American Forum for Global EducationMinefields across the world exact a terrible toll on civilians. Schools can do something about it—and some have already tried.

Teaching IdeasPopulation and Development IssuesSharon Cohen and Christopher GarranAs the world prepares for its six-billionth inhabitant in 1999, students need to know more about the relationship between population growth and economic development.

Making Global Connections in a Chicago ClassroomCharlotte C. Anderson with Steven Brumbaugh, Erin Drankwalter, Scott Hemmer, Michael Myers and Joann PodkulThe links between local and global challenges become apparent in many forms of community service.

The Epic of Sundiata: Using African Literature in the ClassroomMargaret SullivanThe Epic of Sundiata, which chronicles the rise of the Empire of Mali in the grasslands of northwestern Africa in the 13th century, is a compelling drama that bears comparison to such other hero tales as The Iliad and—its own contemporary—the Arthurian legend.

Writing Poetry in the Elementary Social Studies ClassroomGeorge MaximCreative writing should be no less a part of the elementary social studies writing program than are expository forms. This article looks at the use of a poetic form—the cinquain—to teach about Mexican vaqueras in a fourth grade unit on the American Southwest.

The 1997 Carter G. Woodson Book AwardsThese annual awards honor books that deal with subjects relating to U.S. ethnic minorities and race relations in a manner suitable for readers at the elementary and secondary levels. This year’s highest awards go to Suhair Hamid Ghazi for Ramadan, a book for young readers about celebrating the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, and to Jim Haskins for The Harlem Renaissance, an excellent resource that brings Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s to life for high school students.

Elementary Teaching IdeasBuilding the George Washington Bridge: A First Grade ExperienceElizabeth P. McMillanWhat can a first grade teacher do with a sturdy 8-foot cardboard box? In this case, build the towers of the George Washington Bridge, and then let students take over the jobs of construction workers on the bridge and tugboat captains on the river.

Meridian: Inventing an Online JournalCheryl L. Mason and Edwin R. GerlerIt’s fast. It’s accessible. Creative, too. An online journal may be just the thing for connecting you to the latest, greatest ideas for social studies classrooms.

Software Reviews: 3-D Atlas 97 and America RockClifford T. Bennett and Kara DawsonOur reviewers look at two CD-ROMs. 3-D Atlas 97 is a reference CD-ROM for grades five and up. America Rock uses interactive games to teach history, geography, and civics to students in grades three through eight.

Team-Teaching AP History and EnglishDavid Traill, with the assistance of David HarveyThe challenges posed by moving to a 4x4 block schedule caused these teachers to join forces and create a combined syllabus for teaching AP history and English at both the junior and senior levels.

Looking at the LawTeaching About the Death PenaltyJohn Paul Ryan and John Michael EdenOpening discussion of the death penalty may cause students to reconsider their deeply felt, but often unexamined, convictions on this vital legal and moral issue.

Teaching with DocumentsThe Spanish-American War and the Philippine InsurrectionLee Ann Potter and Wynell B. SchamelWhy does the Philippines celebrate its independence on a different day from when the U.S. granted it on July 4, 1946? The answer lies in the different perspective from which Filipinos view what Teddy Roosevelt called the "splendid little war" of 1898.

Surfing the NetInstructional Strategies for the World Wide WebC. Frederick RisingerEverybody knows there’s a lot of great information on the Internet, but where are the sites with good ideas on how to use the World Wide Web in class? Fred Risinger has some answers.

Constructing Knowledge in Social Studies

From Behaviorist to Constructivist TeachingGeoffrey ScheurmanThis introduction to constructivism examines four hypothetical teacher roles based on different views of knowledge and matching methods for teaching social studies.

Teaching IdeasRevisiting Lexington GreenGeoffrey ScheurmanPosing the question, "What happened on Lexington Green?", this article presents and analyzes several different approaches for helping students to solve this conundrum in early American history.

The Oregon Trail: Wyoming Students Construct a CD-ROMPol William HoltCreating a CD-ROM for use in their state’s fourth grade classrooms gave one group of Wyoming high school students the chance to learn electronic production techniques and to perform the work of actual historians.

History Alive! Six Powerful Constructivist StrategiesBert Bower and Jim LobdellThe cognitive benefits of allowing students to construct knowledge of the past are illustrated in this presentation of six dynamic teaching strategies based on multiple intelligence theory.

Resources for Constructivist TeachingMichael M. Yell and Geoffrey ScheurmanThis annotated list includes books that illustrate active teaching strategies as well as more general works on the philosophical underpinnings of constructivism.

Teaching with DocumentsPresident Harry S. Truman’s DiaryStacey Bredhoff and Wynell SchamelThe voice of the "ordinary" man that speaks in Truman’s diary belies the extraordinary nature of his presidency, which involved some of the most fateful decisions of the twentieth century.

1997

November/December 1997 Volume 61 Number 7

Perspectives on Sub-Saharan Africa

An Overview of Sub-Saharan Africa TodayDiane L. BrookAs the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa continue to emerge from the colonial shadow, real progress in democratization and economic development is undercut by a parallel trend toward global marginalization.

"Women at Work:" Incorporating Gender in a Geography LessonBárbara C. Cruz and Carolyn V. ProrokThis geography lesson for middle and high school students examines the nature of work-including its "invisible" components-in the context of a day in the life of two Kenyan women, one urban and one rural.

Liberia: America's Closest African AllySamuel Thompson and Barry MowellThe historic ties between Liberia and the United States make a compelling-but not the only-reason for teaching about this small nation on the coast of West Africa.

Teaching IdeasThe Bill of Rights of South Africa, 1996South Africa's Bill of Rights offers interesting comparisons and contrasts with the United States Bill of Rights on which it is partially modeled.

Educator PerspectivesGeography and Mathematics: Issues in Southern AfricaS. E. Mphaphuli and Kakoma LunetaTwo Southern African educators reflect on the position of their subjects in the school curriculum, while pointing to general problems confronting nations trying to improve their educational systems as rapidly as possible.

Educator PerspectivesThe Failure of Language Policy in Tanzanian SchoolsDeo NgonyaniThe tension over using English or Kiswahili as the basic language of instruction in Tanzanian schools masks deeper problems in the educational system, but can be successfully resolved.

Social Education
FeatureSub-Saharan Africa at a GlanceThis feature offers useful and up-to-date information for teaching and learning about the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Teaching World War I from Multiple PerspectivesStuart J. Foster and Richard RoschA survey of six U.S. secondary history textbooks reveals that the "world" of World War I remains narrowly circumscribed by the conventional U.S.-Eurocentric viewpoint.

Looking At The LawSupreme Court TrendsL. Anita RichardsonThis discussion of recent Supreme Court trends is the first article in a regular feature to appear in Social Education.
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A Decade to Eradicate PovertyUnited Nations Development ProgrammeThe United Nations is launching a Decade for the Eradication of Poverty. How does the UN measure poverty and what are its chances for success?

Overpopulation: Where Malthus Went WrongJohn Morton, Jane S. Shaw and Richard L. StroupIn a developing country, having a large family can make economic sense. The good news for those worried about world population growth is that families become smaller for economic reasons as nations become more prosperous.

Point of ViewEducation is About Producing, Not ConsumingMichael HartoonianIt may sound chic to treat students as "consumers" of educational knowledge, but if they aren't expected to produce, they're not getting an education.

September 1997 Volume 61 Number 5

Violence: On the Screen, On the Street

TV Violence: A Medium's Effects Under ScrutinyMary A. HepburnWhether daily doses of media violence can affect the attitudes of viewers is hardly in questiontoday. What we can-or should-do about it is an excellent social studies topic.

Gun Control: The Debate and Public PolicyChristine WatkinsThe terms of the gun control debate have shifted away from Second Amendment arguments, but the passionate tenor of the debate continues to impede the solution of America's lethal gun problem.

What is Justice for Juveniles?Jennifer Truran RothwellThe evolution of the juvenile justice system creates an excellent platform for teaching about violence and its consequences. These teaching ideas are suitable for research, essay writing, and class discussion.

Trade Books for Reducing ViolenceRonald A. Banaszak and Mary K. BanaszakThese books for varying grade levels examine violence and its consequences in ways intended to increase both understanding and the ability of children to cope with the problem.

Linking Violence Prevention and Good Social Studies: Research and DevelopmentCarolyn Pereira and Ken RodriguezThis article reports on a violence prevention program being tested in 5th grade classrooms in Chicago and Los Angeles. It involves the integration of three curriculum components-law-related education, conflict resolution, and service learning-into the curriculum as part of a combined strategy for reducing violence.

Teaching IdeasPostcards Across AmericaTedd LevyPostcards can go a long way toward interesting your students in other communities and regions of the United States-and the world.

The Human Face of Immigration: A Literary ApproachDennis BanksIn the face of today's largely negative debate over immigration, reading stories about immigrants can help students understand that-while the faces and the ethnic backgrounds may change-people's reasons for wanting to come to America remain fairly constant.

Teaching United States History ThematicallyMary ConnorA thematic approach can generate excitement about recurrent issues in American history as students journey not once, but many times, from past to present in the course of a year's study.

Life Stories in Children's BooksJeanne McLain Harms and Lucille J. LettowUsing children's literature to present life stories can reinforce young children's understanding of life span and how goals formed in childhood may help determine an individual's future.

Now Is Your Time!: A Middle School History UnitElizabeth Yeager, Frans H. Doppen, and David MiddletonFour types of questions based on "historical thinking" and applied to a book by Walter Dean Myers form the core of a middle school course on African American history at the University of Florida's K-12 Developmental Research School.

Citizenship Education and the World Wide WebC. Frederick RisingerFrom "Thomas"-with its up-to-date summaries of bills moving through Congress-to RealCom's links to political interest groups of every stripe, the World Wide Web has much to offer in citizenship education; the question for teachers and students is how best to make use of it.

The Internet TenClark Johnson and Jeck RectorThe performance expectations outlined by the NCSS Curriculum Standards can be a guide to teaching with the Internet. Here are some useful websites for standards-related instruction.

Getting a Grip on GeographyKristin M. RobertsA new teacher facing the challenge of a geography class engages students with a "hands-on" approach to puzzling out the world's continents.

Korean Education: Focusing on the FutureRichard Diem, Tedd Levy and Ronald VanSickleThe Republic of Korea has a vision for education; lifelong learning enabled by modern technology will constitute its new "Edutopia."

Transforming Education in HungaryCathy KaufmanThe struggle for new civic identities in an emerging democracy is inevitably reflected in attitudes towards the educational system.

Building Civic Education in BosniaThree American teachers reflect on what they learned from their Bosnian colleagues in a workshop on educating for democracy.Would I Return? In a Heartbeat!Pat FeichterBeauty in the Midst of DevastationGail HuschleMaking Connections Between CulturesMary Bristol

Video RewindRound Rock Independent School District, Austin, TexasA timely look at women in the U.S. space program is among the new videos reviewed.

September 1996 Volume 60 Number

A New Deal for America

Guest Editors John F. Sears and Fred Crouch

The New Deal: An OverviewAlan BrinkleyTo pull the whole country out of the Great Depression, the Roosevelt Administration forged a new role for government.

An Informal Supper With FDRRobert HopkinsFor one private, a pass home meant a visit to the White House, where his father lived and worked as Roosevelt’s advisor. Robert Hopkins recalls an evening with FDR on the brink of Pearl Harbor.

The Politics of PolioHugh GallagherHow could FDR’s paralysis remain such a well-kept secret during a Presidency that lasted more than twelve years? A complex set of deceptions made the President appear able-bodied.